The president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has appealed to President Donald Trump to step back from the threat of war with Iran, warning that the destruction of civilian infrastructure and rhetoric about wiping out a civilisation cannot be morally justified. Archbishop Paul S. Coakley issued the appeal on 7 April as tensions sharpened over Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, and he coupled it with a call for Catholics and all people of goodwill to join Pope Leo XIV’s prayer vigil for peace on Saturday, 11 April.